Circuit breaker



Mmhz 1926.- 1,575,001

K;C.RANDALL CIRCUIT BRYEAKER FiledfJune 5o, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 1 AWK/fag c. Randa/1.

/Ma'rch 2,1926. 1,575,001-

K. C. RANDALL CIRCUIT BREAKE'R Filed June 30 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 2, 1926,

circo l vsrii'ms KARL C. RANDALL, OEEDGEWOCD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

cincuifi BREAKER.

Application filed June 30, 1921. Serial No. 481,546.` i

To ,all whom t mag/concern:

Be it known that I, KARL C. RANDALL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edgewood vParl i,`inthe county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have in' venteda newv and useful Improvement in Circuit Breakers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switchmechanisni 'and particularly to circuit breakers-of the enclosed type.

-One object-offv my invention is to provide vanenclosed circuit breaker and disconnecting switch whereinmeans are provided for preventing the operationthereo" except in the pro er sequence.

Anot er object of my invention is to '..provide an enclosedv Switch mechanism whereinthe -covers for preventing access tothe circuit breaker and tothe disconnecting switch are so interlocked with the disconnecting switch that they cannotbe Vv'opened sc long as the disconnecting switch remains in'closed position.

' Another object of-'my invention is to provide a switch mechanism,'ha ving the above characteristics, wherein the disconnecting switch andthe controller for the circuitbreaker are locked in predetermined positions by means vof key-actuated devices, and wherein va single key is employed for separately actuating both devices and wherein removal of:

operative relation to the key, is in a predetermined position, thereby insuring a proper :sequence of operation. i l

. Thesefand ther objects, thatwill be made apparent throughout the further descripytion ofv the invention, are attained by means of 'the enclosed circuit-breaker apparatus hereinafter described, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

' u Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic view of the switch mechanism, showing the housing in cross-section and the'various elements of the mechanism in side elevation;

Figsj2 and 3.are semi-diagrammatic views of the circuit-breaker controlling' mechvanism, showing various positions of the controller;

li`igs.-4=.and 5 are side elevational views, on an enlarged scale, of the disconnectingthev key from either device prevented except when the device, that is iii switch-operating mechanism, showing vari-. ous positions of the operating handle; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are front and end views, re-V spectively, of the housing.

'Referring to the drawings, the. appameans ofh'in'ges 15, and the latter being hinged to the opposite side thereof. by means of hinges 16.

The circuit breaker, which may be of any preferred type, includes a pair of stationary contact members 18 and 19 that are bridged by a movable switch member 21 which is provided' with an ve'rating rod 22. The contact members '18 a d? 19 and the bridging member`21 are submerged in oil,`which is contained within a tank 23 that is mounted within the circuit-breaker compartment 12. .The 'bridging member 21 is actuated,

through a system of rods and levers, by means of an electromagnet 24, the armature ofv whic is pivoted to' a lever 25 which turns about the pivot 26. One armor the lever 25 is connected to a lever 27 by means ofgaconnecting rod 28, and one arm of the lever 27 is connected, by means of a link 29, to a lever 31 that is pivotally attached to the upper end of the switch 'rod.22.

Vhen the armature 30 ofv the electromag-v net is actuated, the connecting rod 28 is moved downwardly to impart anupward movement to the bridging member 21 through "the medium of the levers 27 and 3l.

to the housing by means of a shaft 33. This latch member is provided with a projection 34 that engages the underside of the free end of the lever 25 to retain it in closed position'.

lward the left and the lever 25 is released,

thereby causing the switch member 21 to rllieswitch is retained in closed position by means of a latch 32 that is pivoted a shaft 41. The disc- 39 'is provided with fall away from the contact members --1'8 and .19 by ,the'force ogravity.A A spring may an operating handle 42 andits edge is provided with a notch43, the purpose o \which will hereinafter Yappear. -A contact.mem.-

ber" 44 iis, attached to, and moves. With, idle disc 39 and operatively engages stationary I contact terminals v45, 46 and 47.

The contact `number 44 may be moved'to the two. operative positions .illustrated in- '20 Figs. 1 and 3 .and to the inoperative posi-l tions illustrated in Fig. '2: When' the vcontact member 44 is'in the position v'illustrated in Fig. 1,'the trip coil 35 is energized by va circuit from the feed conductors '48 .and 49 through the conductor' 51, the terinina146, the'switch member`44, the terminal 45;.tl 1e conductor-. 5 2 ,ithe switch 53, the conductor 54, the coil .135 'and the conductor 55 .which isconnected to the '.feed conductor 49. 'As

illustratenil-,the circuitbreaker and the operating mechanism therefor are in the open position which they occupy 'immediately 1 after the'trip coil 35 has beenenergized.

',In order to close-thel circuit breaker, the coil 24`is' energized4 by turning thedisc 39 1. until vthefsvvitch member44 connects the coni ltactterminals46.and'47.- This causes: a cir'- Switeh .thejtmpp 7' geuit-t0 bezestablshedihrough the coil sc fmm v fthe feed'conductor 48",V through. the condu"c v -tor 51,vthe Contact terminal'46, the contact member 44, fthe vterminal 47, 'the .conductor 15.6,the coil 24 and the conductor 55', to the In order t terruptv the-circuit through the contro rtch when the control ing position,- illustrated .innig-.indessen 53, which .is attached@ .5 5 the circuit breaker has-been trippedI -the lever".y .25, isprovided -inj the circuit 54 through the trip coil 35. Wien" the switch 21 of thecircultbreakenis moved to openposition, v the s witch .53' is 'disengaged from -the contact members .57 Consequently, no current vwill 'owi'throughthe trip coil' after Separate disconnecting switches. 58 and 59 are provided 'for the' conductors 61 and 62 that are, .connected to`th e circuit-'breaker 'ter1`ninals18` and 19, respectively.. The disconnecting switches may be of any preferred form and severally 'comprise a pivot jaw member 63/a1'1`d a switchjaw member 64,

said members being mounted upon insulating pedestals 65.l'j Switch-blade. members 58a and 59a are pivoted to the pivot-jaw memconnected in tandem and'are'simultaneously The switchfblade members 58a and 59ul are.

actuated by means of 'an operating lever 66 rod69 is pivotally vconnected to a link 71 that is. pivotedto the switch-blade member 5 9. The rod 69 and the link 71 are pivoted to a be1l-crank'levei 72,.one larm-of which is pivotally connected to a locking rod 73 hich extends through the partition 10 and f--the'side wall 70 of the housing.

f -A latchV member`75 is securedto the ends (of therod 7 3 eziteriorly of the -housing and, .'whenithedisconnecting switch is in closed position, the latch 75 is disposed the path of movement ofthe cover 14 and, therefore, prevents openingmovement thereof. so long astheswitch' is in closed position. 'When the disconnectingswitch is moved to open position, the latch 75`is moved outwardly to the'position indicated in dotted lines in Fig.

.7 and permits opening movement. of the cover 14.

" vTheoperating leven-'66 ispivoted tc-the 'housing by means -of a shaft 76 and is, prof .vided, atits reeen'd, with-a handle 77 hav-.j

ing a latch member. 78 thereon.' A bracket .--7 9 is secured'torth'e side of the housing and supports 4a keyfactuated lock 81;4 Theoperat'ing handle s77andl the bracket 79--project-through an' opening `80 in theA 'cover 13v and, whe n` the handle .77, is' in the clo sed position indicatedin Fig. 1, it extends above 'the opening 80 and f serves-"to prevent oplenin'gfmovement of the' cover so longA as the.. disconnecti-ngswitch isin closed position. When'the handle is inthe 'open' position illustrated injFig'l` 5, the handle is in such a position that it"will` clea'r theI-opent ing and permit opening movement of 4the f cover.. By means-g oil-'this' arrangement; and the latch 75,boththe covers 13l and '14 are ioo Therefore, access can not-.be had to.thecir.

.cuit breaker mechanism-or to the disconnecting switch mechanism ing switches .are opens .The lock 181;.is'f`j1s'i prises ahousing 84 inlwhichthelock'bolt- 85 1s vmountedsfor .recip'rocatie'in thereon.v

= The 50111' isf-.provided with aenotch se fori 15o 'Y the purposeof receiving thefwing- 87 of the key 88. `Vhen the bolt is inthe lockinf, .posltion illustrated in Fig; 1, the wing 87 .of the key may be so turned'that it'will register with the narrou'T portion of the-key- .125

'troller switch 44 is tripping position' wherein the circuit through the trip= coil .55,' bers and engage'the switch-jaw members 64.v i's closed., .Inrorder noveth'efjcontroller I switch 14 to the neutral position illustrated in Fig. 2 and' to the closed position illustrated in ,Fig' 3, the key 88- must be inserted in thel lock and the locking bar moved to 'its inner position in opposition lto the compression spring 91. lVhenthe bar 85 has cleared the notch 43, -the disconnecting.

gswite'li 89 may .-be rotated.- `lVhen-the controllers'witch 44 is in any other position than the tripping position, the bar 85'can-- not b`e`moved'to locking-position andthe r`by means of thelock bolt 93 which enters 'L can be withdrawnfrom the lock 81 'bnlyf .key 88 cannot be. removed '.for .-the `reas'on @that the shoulderf92 of the bar willnotA permit rotationof the key toa position in which it may be removed from thelock. A s previously stated, the lock 81 is of 'lhe' loperating Ahandle 77 is retained in :closed position by means of the lockbolt 93- of the lock 81 which engages. the latch 7 Sand prevents movement thereof.-

The handle 7 Tisjlocked in open position thenotch -94'in the latch 78. The kev 88 when the handle is in either full-open posii tion or fullclosed position. If the handle is in intermediatepositiomthe lock bolt 93 cannot be moved tcflocking position and, consequently, the key cannot. ,be removed i' from the lock, for, at this time, the 'shoulder 95 of 'the bolt 93 prevents rotation of the key to a position in which' it may be removed :from the lock.

Itjis an object vof this invention to prevent the opening .of thedisconnecting switchv while the circuit breaker is closed and to prevent the closing of the circuit breaker except whenwthe disconnecting switch isl in .full-openposition or full-closed position.

the operator.

If the disconnecting switch `were'` closed while the vcircuit. breaker is closed, it might result in the burning'or destruction of the disconnectingswitch and possible injury to'A Assuming that 'the `disconnecting switch and the circuit breaker are in closed posi-4 tion, the-key will be inthe loek82 and cannot be removed for the puropse of unlocking the disconnecting switch until the controller switch 44 has been moved to tripping position. The key may then be `turned to lock the controller switch in tripping position and may then be removed for-the purpose of unlocking 41the disconnecting" switch. After the disconnecting switch is funlocked and moved to full-open position, the key may be removed for the purpose of unlocking the controller switch. 'The locks may be of any preferred construction wherein a special, key` is` required in order to permit of rotation thereof within the lock. It will be obvious from the foregoing that the key may not be removed from the lock 82 except when the controller .is in tripping position-j and `the circuit breaker open. It is, therefore, impossible to unlock the disconnecting switch for movement eitherztoopen or to closed position when the circuit breaker-is closed"bec`zause the keyl 88 cannot beremoved from the 'controller lock.

AWhile I have described and illustratedf but one embodiment of my invention, it lW1ll beapparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modications, substi'tutions, additions and omissions may be made in thefapparatus*illustrated without' departing. from' .the spirit and scope o-'thc invention, as vset forth -in the appended claims. i. l

I claimas my invention; 1. Switch mechanism comprising a circuit breaker-,fa disconnecting'switc'h, a controller for v,the circuitV breaker, means for locking the disconnecting switch in closed i position, `a locking 4'means for the controller and means for-actuating both of lsaid locking means so i'terlocked with the controller that Ithe -actuating means is rendered inoperative to actuate the disconnecting-switch predetermined position. c f

2. Switch mechanism comprising a circuit breaker, a` disconnecting switch, acontroller for the circuit bre'akerfmea'ns forflocking the disconnecting switch lin closed position, a locking means for the controller and means for actuating both offsaid'locking means so interlocked with lthe disconnecting. switc locking means that-the. actuatingmeans is I rendered inoperative to actua'te the c ontroller while the disconnecting-'switch lockingmeans i'svin' a predetermined position.

3. Switch 'mechanism-comprising acircuit breaker, a disconnecting switch, controlling means,'.a key-actuatedck-for the controlthe 4disconnecting. switch `in closed position, a key for actuating the said-locks and means preventing removal of the'ke'yv therefrom except when the controller ist in av predetermined'position.'

4. Switch mechanism comprising a circuit breaker, a disconnecting switch, controlling means, a keyactuated lock for-the control- 'locking means while the controller is in a i' ling means, a key-actuatedjlock for locking'u -in the lock for thecontrolling" means for contro ng means, a key-actuated'lockfor,

locking'j-'the disconnecting switchfin' closed position, a key for actuating the said-'locks 'and means V-in the lock for .the disconnectposition, l0

ing sv'vitch for preventing removalpf the key. therefrom except when the disconnect/f` ing .switch is in" predetermined positions.

5., Switch mechanism comprising a` cirbreaker, a disconnectinglswitch, fcontrolling means, akeyactated lock for thei controlling means, a1 key -actuated`lock for locking the disconnectingwswitchin closed vakey for actuating they said locks the disconnec.ting

and means-inthe lock fo switch forli-preventing 'removal or"v the Vlrey therefrom exceptgwhenfLthe disconnecting:

cuit breaker',a"disconnecting switch, a; key- A keygcontrolledmeans for controllingthe 4cirof the keyfrom eitheiJkey-'controlled 'means separate means fr, preventing the removal except when.thefkey-controlled:means that is'in. perative relation With'the key in a predetermined position. Y

r8.7: Switchfmechanism comprising a lions-- inggfa circuit breaker withinthe housing, .a

di'sconnectmg -switchf within Athe f housing for the circuit ,breakena movable cover for the housingggan operating handle for the dis connecting switch proJectl'ng v through the switch `cov`er and for' preventing opening movement A* .of the .cover so long as the Switchis in closed position-and, a. key-controlled means for :l

locking the handle in closed position.

ing having` tworcompartments, a coverfor Sid-Switch mechanism comprising a hous- Y each-compartment, a'disconne'cting switch mone compartment, a circuit breaker inthe 'other compartment, aikey-controlled means for locking the coversin closedl positionwhen. the disconnecting switch is in closedvpos'i# tion, 'a second keycontrolled means for controlling .the/.circuitl braker," a key for sep.- aratel'y' actuating 'both of said key-controlled Y means ,and means Vfor preventing the l removal of thejlgey'from the secondjkeyr controlled means except when the latter 1s in a' Apre( leterminec l position.l

10. Switch mechanism comprising'al housing, adis'connecting switch Within the-hous-4 operating handle 'for the .disconnecting projecting through the cover'and for preventing openin movement Aof the cover so-long as,-the switch --isin closedposition ing, a movable cover for the housing, an v and ahoy-controlled meansfor locking the handle in closed position.

In testimony4 whereof,` I" have hereunto 'subscribed my name' this 22nd day of" J une KARL QRANDALL. 

